Posted by Steven on March 25, 1999 at 14:42:45:
Posted by Jason Bletnit on March 17, 1999 at 23:24:23:
: So why these days does God not speak through burning
: bushes, talking donkeys, and prophets with the inspired
: powers to part seas and burn water-logged pieces of meat?
: Why the "less-direct" and "less tangible" methods?
: (you know what I mean)
PART 2
Posted by Jason Bletnit on March 22, 1999 at 22:32:07:
: Actually, this is a question that has had me wondering for a while, as I know that for myself, as an engineer, that things more tangible would help me
when I struggle. I asked this question in my christian high school, and never got a decent answer, other than the "God works in mysterious ways"
quote. Which is a truth, albeith a "shut up and don't ask involved questions" answer. Truth was, I had more biblical (and technical) knowledge than most
of those faculty. Hence I was bored in HS, and thought up questions like this alot to annoy the faculty (and while giving much thought to some, still
managed to be stumped (and frustrated that no one would give me the time of day with some of the more "thought provoking" questions.
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In the Old Testament, God did speak more audibly, and show himself more visibly. He also made his will extremely clear throughg the law, so that no
one had an excuse of ignorance when they transgressed.
You would think that the Jews leaving Egypt with so many awesome signs and wonders would desire God above all. You would think that when Moses
brought the law they would have been trying their best to keep it. You would think that they would have an intense desire to learn more about this
awesome God who revealed Himself. You would at least think they'd appreciate His calling and His promises, and try to please Him.
THEY DIDN'T. They knew His will and disobeyed, over and over again. They had no desire to seek God; they took Him for granted. When the signs
and wonders ceased for a few days, they immediately grumbled against God, and built a golden calf to take the place of the God who had inexcusably
disappeared.
Their whole walk was based on visual, audible signs and miracles. As a result, their faith was inferior, being carnally based. They were not grateful; they
would not trust. They had no desire to seek God at all; they felt that it was HIS responsibility to always awe and amaze them, and they constantly found
fault with God when He didn't perform according to their requirements. This is the result of the "give us a sign" brand of faith in the OT.
I personally feel very fortunate to live in this age of real faith, hungry and thirsty for God, seeking that which is within the veil. The OT revelation of
God didn't work; perhaps the whole point of it was to show us that it doesn't work that way. Our faith must be based on the invisible, the eternal. This
fuels our desire to seek Him; to see His glory revealed. If our faith is carnally based, we will end up as rebellious and miserable as they.
I think of the rich man who was in torment, begging for Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers to warn them, so that they could avoid his damnation.
He argued that if Lazarus rose from the dead to deliver the message, that would be a big enough miracle to convince them.
But Abraham said "...they would not believe, even if one should rise from the dead."
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